Hemlock High School crowns autistic boy as homecoming king

Taylor Alfano and Mitchell Pitt, Hemlock High School's homecoming king and queen.View full size

RICHLAND TWP. —The students of Hemlock schools have always fully embraced Mitchell Pitt, an autistic senior, since his first days in fourth grade at the district, his mother says.

Pitt is 6'5" with an athletic build and sandy blond hair. Most people in Hemlock see him as the energetic boy with slightly crooked glasses running up and down the football field during games, revving up the crowd.

But instead of the sidelines on Friday night, Pitt walked down the 50 yard line of Hemlock's football field to receive his crown.

As he walks with the homecoming queen one one side and and his parents on the other, he is surrounded by a sea of royal blue and white, his school's colors. The stadium's bright lights shine in the black night's sky.

Wearing his number 84 jersey in his role as football team manager and a blazer, the previous year's homecoming king is ready to place the crown on Pitt's head.

Instead, Pitt grabs it and places it on his own head, to laughs and applause from those on the field.

Pitt is an avid fan of Hemlock sports, a cheerleader for his friends on the field. He says he's proud to wear the homecoming king crown.

"Hemlock's the best," Pitt said. "Being homecoming king is fun."

He was named king in an assembly Friday afternoon, where his classmates say it was obvious that he was excited for the honor and accepted the cheers, applause and title with a bow.

View full sizeHemlock High School's homecoming king, Mitchell Pitt, and queen, Taylor Alfano, and their families.

Pitt is the son of Anna and Brian Pitt of Hemlock.

Anna Pitt says her son's victory is a testament to the students of Hemlock High School.

"He reflects them," she said. "He sees how giving they are, the friendliness and the acceptance they have. He just loves them. Since he's been at Hemlock, all the kids have embraced him."

She says that her son's fellow students have been his cheerleaders since they first became classmates. Classmates say everyone likes Mitchell Pitt because he's nice to everyone.

Mitchell Pitt's social capabilities are reassuring to his mother.

"I know when I'm not there, he's OK," she said. "You hear so much about bad kids, but these are good ones."

She said the students interactions and acceptance of their interactions with Mitchell Pitt will help them in the future to be comfortable with other special needs individuals.

"He's one of us," Jacob Turner, a Hemlock High School senior said. "No one treats him differently. He's been going to every game since freshman year. He gets along with everyone. We treat him just like another classmate."

View full sizeHemlock High School's Homecoming King, Mitchell Pitt, crowns himself at halftime of the school's homecoming game.

Turner, son of Greg and Samantha Turner of Hemlock, said Pitt will always remember his crowning.

"I think it's nice he'll always remember being chosen," Turner said.

His peers say he has great school spirit.

When Mitchell Pitt graduates high school, he will move on to a transitional center locally that teaches special needs individuals life and independent living skills, Anna Pitt said.

Hemlock High School's students have given Mitchell Pitt confidence to do whatever he wants to do, she said.

"These kids have always told him, 'Mitchell, you can be whatever you want,' and he believes them," Anna Pitt said.

"It
was beyond belief," she said about the announcement of Mitchell Pitt's victory. "I’m walking on clouds. He is as gentle and sweet as the day is long. The school just erupted when
he was announced king, it was just fabulous."

Midcalf said Mitchell Pitt's crowning is a reflection of his classmates' kindness. She added that she wants to personally thank each of them for naming him king.

"They
don’t realize what they have done for this boy, he would never have come
as far as he has without him," she said. "They stuck with him and included him and
everything. Everyone
in the world has a purpose, and we have found Mitchell’s. No matter what
a person’s disability, they have something to offer, it’s beautiful."

Taylor Alfano, a Hemlock High School senior was named homecoming queen. She plans to study dietetics.